The Temple of the Living God

14 (A)Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For (B)what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or (C)what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 (D)What accord has Christ with Belial?[a] Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For (E)we are the temple of the living God; as God said,

(F)“I will make my dwelling among them and (G)walk among them,
    and (H)I will be their God,
    and they shall be my people.
17 Therefore (I)go out from their midst,
    and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;
    then I will welcome you,
18 (J)and I will be a father to you,
    and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.”

Since we have these promises, beloved, (K)let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body[b] and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

Paul's Joy

(L)Make room in your hearts[c] for us. (M)We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that (N)you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. I am acting with (O)great boldness toward you; (P)I have great pride in you; (Q)I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.

For even (R)when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—(S)fighting without and fear within. But (T)God, who comforts the downcast, (U)comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 6:15 Greek Beliar
  2. 2 Corinthians 7:1 Greek flesh
  3. 2 Corinthians 7:2 Greek lacks in your hearts

Warning Against Idolatry

14 Do not be yoked together(A) with unbelievers.(B) For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?(C) 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial[a]?(D) Or what does a believer(E) have in common with an unbeliever?(F) 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?(G) For we are the temple(H) of the living God.(I) As God has said:

“I will live with them
    and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
    and they will be my people.”[b](J)

17 Therefore,

“Come out from them(K)
    and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
    and I will receive you.”[c](L)

18 And,

“I will be a Father to you,
    and you will be my sons and daughters,(M)
says the Lord Almighty.”[d](N)

Therefore, since we have these promises,(O) dear friends,(P) let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness(Q) out of reverence for God.

Paul’s Joy Over the Church’s Repentance

Make room for us in your hearts.(R) We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts(S) that we would live or die with you. I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you.(T) I am greatly encouraged;(U) in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.(V)

For when we came into Macedonia,(W) we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn(X)—conflicts on the outside, fears within.(Y) But God, who comforts the downcast,(Z) comforted us by the coming of Titus,(AA) and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 6:15 Greek Beliar, a variant of Belial
  2. 2 Corinthians 6:16 Lev. 26:12; Jer. 32:38; Ezek. 37:27
  3. 2 Corinthians 6:17 Isaiah 52:11; Ezek. 20:34,41
  4. 2 Corinthians 6:18 2 Samuel 7:14; 7:8